Berry leaves Neston with a bitter taste

Aug 22 2007 by Nick Moreton, Birkenhead News

A DRAMATIC collapse at the hands of Hyde at Parkgate prevented Neston from taking a commanding 24-point lead at the top of the ECB Premier Division of The Right Move Abroad Cheshire County League.

In the only Premiership game played to a conclusion, Neston had appeared in total control after dismissing Hyde for 146, with John Ashley 38 and Cheshire seamer Chris Finnegan returning a magnificent 6-56.

Neston were strolling when they reached 127-3 in reply with Jack Smith and Chris Hackett both scoring 43.

Then the introduction of Hyde’s teenage off-spinner Danny Berry brought about a swift decline in Neston’s fortunes and they lost their last seven wickets for 14 runs.

Finegan was the last man out in the final over as Berry completed a match-winning return of 5-21.

Instead of pocketing 25 points, Neston earned only seven which keeps them just six ahead of champions Oulton Park, whose game at Toft was one of the five others rained off.

Neston cricket manager Bob Cooke said: “We had the match in our hands, then froze.

“We have won only one of the last six and need to get cracking again.

“Full marks to Hyde who never gave up and they must like playing at Parkgate after winning the league’s Twenty20 final there the previous Sunday.”

In the First Division, second-placed Oxton were rained off at Bollington, but there was full 100 overs bowled in Birkenhead Park’s drawn game at Bredbury St Mark’s, where the Pennine side amassed 283-5, then had Park hanging on at 189-9.

Ian Platt saved the day with a spirited unbeaten 82, but they still look doomed to a second relegation.

Upton were unable to bat in their home match against Poynton, who had reached 131-8 off 30 overs when the rain arrived.

New Brighton enjoy an 11-point lead at the top of the Liverpool Competition Premier Division with five matches to play after rain again decimated the weekend programme.

No matches were completed on Saturday and six of the seven top-flight matches were abandoned without a ball being bowled.

The only action was at Firwood Bootle in their crunch title showdown with the leaders.

After winning the toss in a game which didn’t start until 2.30pm, champions Bootle stuck New Brighton into bat and they soon stamped their authority on proceedings.

Will Purser claimed 5-20 as New Brighton were dismissed for just 74 in 29 overs, Matt Thompson top scoring with 19.

In reply Bootle slumped to 64 for seven off 25.3 overs but a thrilling finale failed to materialise as the heavens opened and the game was abandoned.

Louis Botes took 4-26 for New Brighton, while Stephen Parry top-scored for Bootle with 27.

All clubs in the Premier Division took five points from the weekend so the standings remain unchanged.